Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana - Launch at Motihari, East Champaran, Bihar
03 Aug 2016 | BPCL
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched at Motihari, East Champaran Bihar by Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Shri. Radha Mohan Singh and Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minster of State (I/c), Petroleum and Natural Gas on 31 July 2016. This marks one more step in the direction of providing LPG connections during the three financial years commencing 2016-17 to 5 crore families who are Below Poverty Line (BPL). The PMUY was launched in the presence of Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, Hon MP, West champaran, Shri Pramod kumar, MLA Motihar, Shri Sachindra Prasad Singh, MLA Kalyanpur, Shri Shyam Babu Prasad Yadav, MLA Pipra, Shri Rajesh Kumar alia Babloo Gupta, MLC East Champaran, Shri Raju Tiwari, MLA Govindjanj, Shri Lal Babu Prasad, MLC Bihar, Shri Sanjay Mayukh, MLC Bihar, Shri Rana Randhir Singh, MLA Madhuban and other important dignitaries.
As a symbolic launch of the PMUY, 10 women from BPL families were handed over connections by Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri. Radha Mohan Singh, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minster of State (I/c), Petroleum and Natural Gas, Sanjay Jaiswal MP and other dignitaries on the dais.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana which was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 1st May 2016 at Ballia (Uttar Pradesh) is a scheme to provide clean cooking fuel to the women belonging to the ‘Below Poverty Line’ (BPL) households across the country. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to provide subsidized connections to 5 Crore BPL households by 2019 and is a part of larger program of adding 10 Crore new LPG connections by 2019. Most of the connections would be in the eastern part of India where domestic LPG penetration is less than the national average. This is the first time in the history of the country that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural gas is implementing a welfare scheme benefitting crores of women belonging to the poorest households. The identification of BPL families will be made on Social Economic Caste Census (SECC)- 2011 data. WHO study also suggests that 5 lakh women die every year in our country on account of fumes generated by using non-conventional sources of fuel.
Finance Minister has budgeted Rs. 2,000 Crore to subsidies 1.5 crore LPG connections for BPL households during the financial year 2016-17. During the next two financial years i.e. 2017-18 and 2018-19, the Government of India would make budgetary provision of Rs. 6000 Crore to subsidies 3.5 Crore new connections to BPL households under PMUY.
PMUY scheme provides subsidy of Rs. 1600/- to the woman beneficiary, comprising security deposit of 14.2 Kg cylinder, domestic pressure regulator, suraksha hosepipe, domestic gas consumer card and administration charges.
A new low cost LPG Stove has been developed (with BIS certification and one star rating) for the use of BPL households and the cost of the stove is Rs. 990/- , and thereby reducing the burden on the poor households. Oil Marketing Companies shall also provide an option of interest free EMI option to cover the cost of LPG Stove and / or the first refill to the beneficiaries who are unable to bear this cost. The interest free EMI option aims at recovering the loan amount through the gas subsidy deposited in the bank account of the beneficiary from the subsequent refills.
Subsequent to the launch of the scheme on 1st May, 2016 at Ballia; several regional launches took place in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Bihar to expedite enrolment of more and more of beneficiaries in this scheme. Within a short span of less than three months, more than 20 Lakhs of beneficiaries have been released LPG connections under the scheme. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is set to extend benefit of the scheme to 1.5 crore beneficiaries during the current financial year 2016-17. In Bihar, the scheme was launched on 27.6.2016 and has already crossed 1 lakh within a short time.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has released the toll free helpline number for the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries. The candidates from BPL households can call toll free at 1800 266 6696 to discuss any of their queries about the PM Ujjwala Yojana.
The Hon’ble Minister of State(I/c), Petroleum and Natural Gas has said that New distributorships will be set up in Champaran district for making cylinders/cooking fuel accessible and easily available. So also, a New Oil terminal and bottling plant is planned in Champaran district at the cost of Rs 500 crore. Natural Gas pipeline from Gorakhpur is also planned for benefit of Motihari. BPCL has been requested to provide an ambulance out of its CSR commitment for Motihari Engineering college. Minister also gave commitment of Govt PSUs participation in recruitment process of various engineering colleges of the state.